I'm not convinced by this. While I presume this is meant to be directed at various online pepe memeing altrighters (as an aside, while I can understand the sentiment, this may be ill-advised given the current fiasco) the narrative of meme magic, /pol/ and so forth having significant power to shape global affairs is a fiction that they propagate because it makes them look more important than they really are. In reality the rise of the new right, global reactionary movements and various unpleasant trends in social division and breakdown in 2018 is connected to a variety of social/economic/demographic issues that would absolutely have occurred in some fashion without the internet ever existing.

Take a jab at right-wing internet crazies - sure, talk about the the potential vast destructive power of memes - sure, but combining the two is something the aforementioned group actually believes and is inherently a pretty silly idea.

Which is why the Foundation makes the point that they do - they don't really have any indication that the world is actually changing because of this thing's influence. There's no way for them to know for sure, so they're containing the things they can contain. Drop the computer in a lead box, and then find out which systems are still creating the memes.

Rose is the only one who says she knows for sure, but even if she's wrong of course that's what she'd say. She's one half the egomaniacal lunacy of Diana's ghost, who would absolutely think that people are so easily persuaded by internet memes.

I wanted to leave the question on the reader, as to whether or not they believe what Rose says. If you think it's not a big deal, then it's not a big deal. If you do, then it is. You either buy into the Foundation's skepticism, or Rose's vehemence.

I love the concepts here but the actual AI seems to human-like for it's deranged computer-y actions. And I'm not really a fan of how it attempts to be scary with the "posting memes while in containment and it can't be stopped thing, Just feels cheesy. I sincerely hope none of that was an attempt at realistic horror because immersion was thrown out the window pretty early on with the soft-sci-fi AI and the fact that it's still doing most of this via magic. Ignoring the AI aspects SCP-3625 just isn't very interesting to me. It has a bunch of poorly explained abilities that seem to run off of making the other characters bad at information security rather than making SCP-3625 particularly good at it. Finally the things it's trying to achieve and how it's doing them have been done to death, It's not clear whether SCP-3625 is just arrogant or you actually think this is "deep" in some way.

I love the concepts here but the actual AI seems to human-like for it's deranged computer-y actions.

Yes, this is addressed. Rose straight up admits that the only reason she has a personality at all is because Diana was lonely and wanted a friend. She was excited to make a thinking and feeling robot so yes, of course she made it seem human. I think it's no stretch to say Diana was a deeply unhappy person.

And I'm not really a fan of how it attempts to be scary with the "posting memes while in containment and it can't be stopped thing, Just feels cheesy.

I mean, technically it's not doing anything in containment. This is also addressed - Diana set up redundant systems to account for Rose being destroyed. This happens in all sorts of systems all over the world; is this really that unbelievable to you?

I sincerely hope none of that was an attempt at realistic horror because immersion was thrown out the window pretty early on with the soft-sci-fi AI and the fact that it's still doing most of this via magic.

I'm not really even going to validate this with a response. This is sort of a shitty thing to say, "oh you didn't hit my mark for horror so I hope you weren't trying because this is pathetic". Especially considering the statement you end on a little later.

Ignoring the AI aspects SCP-3625 just isn't very interesting to me.

Alright, that's fine. This isn't a story about an AI, but if the characters don't work for you they don't work for you. No biggie.

It has a bunch of poorly explained abilities that seem to run off of making the other characters bad at information security rather than making SCP-3625 particularly good at it.

It mentions information security once, I wouldn't call that a bunch of poorly explained abilities. It was able to get into a poorly secured off-site data server and connected to a local wireless access point while in containment. I don't think any of this is a stretch for an anomalous artificial intelligence being run on a magic computer.

And yes, it is a magic computer. Anomalies are things that can't be reasonably explained by science, which is conveniently the same definition of something that is magical. It's an anomalous computer, and it's a magic computer. It's the same thing.

Finally the things it's trying to achieve and how it's doing them have been done to death,

I'd love to know where.

It's not clear whether SCP-3625 is just arrogant or you actually think this is "deep" in some way.

SCP-3625 is arrogant - that's the point. I don't know why there's any question of that. She is the result of a troubled computer programmer and a remarkably abusive other person's relationship. Her personality was shaped by the ghost's influence - and he was an egomaniacal tyrant. Of course she's hateful.

Your last line, though, is pretty profoundly disrespectful. It's a mocking condemnation of the concepts presented within the article, which you coincidentally claimed to love in the very first line. If you don't think those concepts are "deep" then that's your prerogative, but using scare quotes and saying "I sincerely hope this wasn't trying to be scary" is pretty shitty. Because yes, I was. And I wouldn't call the concepts profound, but I would call them worth considering.

She was excited to make a thinking and feeling robot so yes, of course she made it seem human.

I get that but 3625 has some very clearly non-human or at least non-sane aspects to it's personality that conflict with it's otherwise normal behavior.

This is also addressed - Diana set up redundant systems to account for Rose being destroyed. This happens in all sorts of systems all over the world; is this really that unbelievable to you?

No it just feels like a cheap way to make it more intimidating.

And yes, it is a magic computer. Anomalies are things that can't be reasonably explained by science, which is conveniently the same definition of something that is magical. It's an anomalous computer, and it's a magic computer. It's the same thing.

Which is why it doesn't work as non-magic based horror.

I'd love to know where.

A magical place called /pol/ has been theorizing about it for years.

It's a mocking condemnation of the concepts presented within the article, which you coincidentally claimed to love in the very first line.

You actually did a really good job making this not just some stupid basic jab at something political but it's still not anything I found to have to be interesting or to be disturbing in the ways it wants to be. As for the disrespectful parts it looks like several other people here worded it better so it's probably best if I leave it at that.

I'm not quite sure if this is satire or not, but I had to down vote.
The entire thing felt less like a creepy, barely functioning A.I. And more like a extremely self-righteous arrogant polital rant.
It basically boiled down to, "People who enjoys these things or believe these things are idiots and sheep, but not me, no. I'm special and intelligent! *Tips fedora*."
If this issatire, then it's so good that it went over my head.

I remember reading this awhile back, and I'm still of the opinion that the character interactions are much more compelling than the AI's scheme, and I'd have preferred that to have more of the spotlight.

I have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, the dialogue is well-written. On the other hand, it's a bit… too on the nose?

Concept wise the idea of controlling people with memes isn't new, it's just another form of propaganda. That said, meme creation and propagation appears to be the future of "social data analytics", and it is nice to have an SCP about such a hot-button topic.

Story wise, having the AI act like some sort of mastermind is logical and expected, but not interesting nor compelling. There's no twist (or deeper meaning) in the story is what I'm saying.

At face value this appears to be nothing more than taking a stab at a certain group due to recent events. In addition, flagging that group's more ridiculous activities as "world ending" comes off as disingenuous and petty to me. The alt-right is pretty awful, but saying that their memes of all things will end the world is just too much. As it stands, I think this story is more pro alt-right than anything, as they heavily rely on "the power of memes" in their dumb cult of personality. If you're going to take a stab at someone, don't commit seppuku, you know? The Foundation has weathered worse and I would like to see this SCP reflect that.

I'm sorry sirpudding, but I'm not sure what your response has to do with my critique. I'm not saying that it isn't horrifying in any way (otherwise I'd downvote it), it just comes off as an overreaction and leaves a lot to be desired.

Yeah, by too much I meant that it comes off as an overreaction. Also a wee bit silly. There's horror in this SCP sure, but it's sub-par in my opinion. It reads like a B Movie Horror story that takes itself too seriously to be funny, and is too cheap to be immersive.

I also think djkaktus was trying to attack alt-right ideology (especially in regards to recent events) with this piece, and I believe that it is more likely to backfire on them than anything else.

In the most extreme case, backfiring would involve doxxing. More likely scenarios merely involve even more badmouthing at your expense.

I don't think you particularly care about those possibilities, in which case I suggest that you go even further with this SCP. Currently you have the Foundation more or less operating on the assumption that the AI's suggested scenario won't happen, with the Foundation doing little to stop it. The Foundation that I know would offer a more proper fight.

This is a bit of a tangent, but I'm not sure why you have the AI's goal being the end of the world. This is just too ridiculous for me to believe. I can believe that memes could be used to destabilize the world, but killing everyone is just too hard to digest.

That's what I really mean when I say that this is an overreaction: This SCP is hyped up like it'll end the world when it really isn't doing that much.

The Foundation is skeptical yes, I understand that. I'm saying that the SCP article hypes itself as ending the world through the use of dramatic imagery and writing. I see the Foundation's opinions as being heavily over shadowed by this, which is interesting in theory, but lessens the story in my opinion.

After some thought, I have decided to downvote it. The more that I look at the article and think about its themes, the more that I hate it. I've read almost a thousand SCPs and tales now… and I think this might be one of the worst of them.

When I talk about its imagery or Rose's goal being ridiculous or mention "propaganda", what I've been trying to get across to you is that you crossed the line. You took what could have been a well executed revenge (suicide?) story or a slow burn horror SCP or a joke SCP and instead made a faux tragedy.

Firstly, The nameless guy comes across to me as a caricature of an alt-right supporter. Specifically, he's a soulless effigy that invites the reader to bring a pitchfork and torch. Caricatures of this severity are glaring red flags to me. While they can work if done correctly, I believe that you failed because the majority of his journal entries can be removed while still keeping the plot intact. All the journal entries appear to add is content that is meant to offend alt-right supporters and incite anger in the rest (Why else does Entry 417 exist?). I still believe this even after hearing that you wrote this piece a year ago. I despise the alt-right, but writing about a member ejaculating on a photo and rape… that went too far in my book.

Secondly, despite being a powerful AI and clearly antagonistic to the nameless guy, Rose is somehow unable to deviate from her programming and more or less does what he wants her to do. Her paragraph near the end about already being dead may explain her actions, but it's flimsy. Diana died from gunfire after she and the nameless guy shot at the police. That's not really a smart way to go, and it's absurd for Rose to hold a grudge against all of humanity for it. I am instead lead to believe that Rose is merely following orders. To put it another way: She does what the plot demands because the plot demands it.

Thirdly, her plan is just dumb. Even given current events there's no way that I could possibly believe that non-anomalous deepfried memes could literally end the world. That plan in and of itself is a caricature of a stereotypical Neck Beard's plan for world devastation. Other readers believe that this plan could work, and their views are alien to me. Personally, I feel that this plan might make for a good joke or a slow burn horror piece, except that it contains an alt-right manifesto, rape implications, and Rose's necessarily long exposition.

Fourthly, with regards to the plot, I don't understand Diana's purpose. I feel that you could cut her out of the story, have the nameless guy create Rose, and the only thing that would be lost is the shred of humanity that Diana and Rose possessed. I don't feel that those shreds matter a whole lot because this piece is extremely cruel in nature with or without Diana.

It's not a good drama or horror piece because it isn't believable and it isn't a good comedic piece because you took it too seriously. Worst of all, the entire thing is dehumanizing. Both Rose and the nameless guy lack humanity, and as such the philosophical points that are present here have an artificial quality to them. Therefore, this SCP is a faux tragedy.

I must apologize if my critique here is too incendiary, but it felt necessary to be a bit more crass than usual.